Patricia Lynn Keller, 64, of Hempfield Township, had been wanted ever since she missed a February 2011 court date, according to county detectives.

She appeared before District Judge James Albert and waived her preliminary hearing Thursday on charges of theft by unlawful taking, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds and forgery.

As Keller left the courthouse in handcuffs and got into a van to take her back to the county prison, she said she was "absolutely" sorry. "I wouldn't have turned myself in if I wasn't sorry," she said.

County detectives said they learned that Keller flew to Moscow before going to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, so they added a charge of flight to avoid apprehension and a charge of default in required appearance to her list of charges in July 2011.

The U.S. Marshals International Investigations Branch worked with the State Department Diplomatic Security Service to let Dubai police know that Keller was in their city. Interpol also became involved, issuing a red notice, which requests the arrest of a wanted person for likely extradition.

Keller was arrested in April by police in Dubai, and the State Department took possession of her revoked passport. She arrived July 6 at Washington Dulles International Airport on a non-stop, one-way flight and was taken back to Westmoreland County by sheriff's deputies.

County detectives said Keller is suspected of stealing about $217,500 from the medical practice of Tri-County Occupational Medicine, operated by Dr. Andrew Stroh.

She allegedly misappropriated funds and used office charge and credit accounts for personal expenses, including vacations to Las Vegas, Boca Raton, Fla., Aruba, Mexico and Walt Disney World, according to the U.S. Marshals' office.